The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-18
GEN. SAIRCHILO'S FIRE
UNeUALIFn'BLY DIsAPPReVED
BY THE q. A. Z. POST OF
MEMPHIS,
And, IL Is Thought, by Their Com
rades In the Union Army
and Navy.
A BRAVE MEMBER EXPRESSES
PREVAILING SENTIMENT.
Disruption Of the Organization
Likely 10 Ensue From the Psliti-
cal Utterances.

Members OF the G. A. r. Post in
this city are not disposed to indorse
by their silence the fiery language OF
Gen. Fsirchild, in regard TO the return
OF Confederate flags. Discovering
this fact in conversation with some OF
them, and APPEAL reporter yesterday
sought Dol. T. B Edgington to obtain
an outspoken sentiment. The gentle
man was busily engaged on legal doc
uments, but cheerfully laid them aside
temporarily to give his views on the
question propounded. He lie Past
Post Commander, in love with the or
ganiEation as designed in the reorga n
ization about eight years ago, and
consC quently eminently qualified to
voice the views Of at least q majority
OF his comrades.
Colonel, what is your opinion OF
Gen. Fairchild's language, comment
ing on President Cleveland's order to
return to the States North and South
flags captured during the war 2" asked
the scribe.
ION yesterday / was called on by
Capt. ]. b. Aldrich, another member
Of the g. A. R., to express my visws
on the same question, and found
that he felt deeply sggrieved at the
very violent and apparently vindictive
expression OF Gen. Fairchild, that the
brain, tongue and hand of the Presi-
dent might be psralyzed for attempt
ing the return OF these flags to the
States from which they had been
taken. suggested to Capt. Aldrich
that the matter should be looked into
q little further, as l thought Gen.
Fairchild had been misrepresented;
that knew him personally and that
he was brave man, and had lest an
arm at Antietam or Gettysburg, and
had two or three times been elected
TO the position Of Governor Of the
State Of Wisconsin, which had fur
nished 30 many grand men for the
grsndest army that the world ever
saw. The dispatches OF this morning
not only confirm the utterances Of the
distinguished soldier and statesman,
but they show that the Governors
OF Ohio, Kansas and Nebraska
have taken active steps to pre-
vent the return OF the hags.
As for myself can only say .that the
action OF Gen. FArchild and of those
who are cooperating with him meets
my unqualified disapproval, and I be-
lievs 1t meets the general disapproval
Of our comrades Of the Union army
and navy"
what do you anticipate will be
the resultf"
"The annual convention OF the
Grand Army will take place at st.
Louis, No., the latter part OF Septem.
Der next, and the views OF that body
will doubtless then be made known
in q formal and official manner. II
the action Of Gen. Fairchild isi in
dorsed 1t will doubtless lead to the
disruption OF the organisation. II was
destroyed and disbanded once before
by politicians who sought TO make the
Grand Army the iootstool OF ambitious
men,"
"The Grand Army Of the Union"
Col. Edgington, continued, "con-
fronted on the field the grandest
and brsvest enemy that ever drew
a sword or shouldered mus.
ket, and surely no comrade OF the
Grand Army in these piping times
OF peace could deny them any such
small courtesies az the return OF these
old rags. In the great and bloody
battles OF Europe the losses In killed
and wounded ranged from II to IL
per cent. OF the numbers engaged.
The Duke Of Wellington lost less than
IL per cent. Of his command in the
battle OF Waterloo. At the battle Of
Shiloh each side lost about 80 per
cent. OF it's forces in killed and
wounded. At Gettysburg, Perryville,
MurIreesboro, ChiCamauga, Mission
Ridge, Wilderness and Spottsylvania
the Losses sometimes reached 40 per
cent. on one side and 80 per cent. on
the other. In theae cold per cents
valor as we'll as values are measured.
Soldiers who nstonished the civilized
world by their bravery in war
cannot afford to have their mag
nanimity questioned in time Of
peace. The ex.Contederate soldier
who votes pensions to our disabled
comrades, their widows aud orphans
should not be denied the courtesy Of
these rags. The Grand Army wants
no trophies. Its work cannot be
destroyed by moths like this disputed
bunting. A happy and united people,
a prosperous and well governed re.
public, together with just and lively
appreciation OF the services Of thOse
who preserved it, will fill all its aspira-
tons"
1.-THE Grand Army wants no tro-
phies. It needs none. Its work can
not be destroyed by moths like this
disputed bun ing.
"a happy and united people, . pros
porous and well governed Republic,
together with a just and lively appre-
citation Of the services Of those who